CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The landscape in Uptown will be changing as Charlotte city council unanimously approves the rezoning application for the Panthers practice facility. Before the vote, city council members learned the team will make changes to match some desires of people living close by.
A big change is the pedestrian walkway and bicycle access. It was one of the complaints made by people in the area when the application was originally submitted. The zoning committee noted a lot of changes from the original application, changes that made one council member comfortable recommending approval.
PREVIOUSLY: Neighborhoods west of uptown voice opposition to Panthers practice facility plans
The major change includes increasing the size of the walking path in the area to 17 feet in order to accommodate the Uptown Cycle Link project. That project will connect more than 40 miles of bikeways into and across the Uptown area.
Just last week, Queen City News talked with the members of the Five Point Community Collaborative which was against the rezoning petition because it did not include this trail.
Panthers LLC also has 180 days to establish an account with $60,000 for a tree preservation, replacement, and beautification fund along Cedar Street. District Two representative, Malcolm Graham says the Panthers worked well with neighbors, and this project will be a compliment to the neighborhood.
“This is really a great example again of public and private partnership where the community and Panthers LLC worked together to ensure that the residents of Third Ward and the surrounding community will be a part of the change and not victims of it,” said Graham before the vote.
There is no set completion date for the indoor facility, but the Panthers are scheduled to work out on the outdoor fields when training camp gets underway. Graham also told council members that the Panthers have vowed to work with CMPD to monitor traffic and parking in the area as well when camp starts.
For now, Panthers’ training camp will be at Bank of America Stadium. Rookies will report on July 19 and everyone else on July 23.
